Information workers have more ways to communicate and collaborate than ever before. There's e-mail, instant messaging (IM), Web and video conferencing and the plain old telephone. There are also several modes of communication for the mobile worker, such as the cellular phone, the desktop PC and mobile Pocket PC, just to name a few.

The real challenge for most information workers is being able to locate someone in real time and communicate with them via the most appropriate communications channel. Microsoft has taken a significant step toward addressing this dilemma with Microsoft Office Communicator 2005. Communicator is an integrated communications client that provides rich communication capabilities that allow information workers to communicate more effectively. As follow up to Microsoft's global Real-Time Collaboration Launch Event on March 8, Communicator recently released to manufacturing (RTM).

PressPass met up with Gurdeep Singh Pall, corporate vice president of the Live Communications Team in the Real-Time Collaboration Group at Microsoft, to discuss how Communicator will increase productivity within the workplace, the hurdles Microsoft overcame to produce Communicator, and the future of real-time collaboration for the business community.